Sam Pantos opened the hijack to 200,000 and Filip Radic called from the small blind. Ailen Ji also called from the big blind.
The flop came 9♣ J♠J♣ and when it got to Pantos, he bet 500,000. Radic called, and Ji folded.
A J♦ on the turn put three jacks on board, and both players quickly to the J♥ river, which put quads on board. Both players checked it down, with Pantos showing 8♥ 8♣.
That was no good as Radic held K♣ 4♣ for king-high to scoop the pot.
What a runout!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic ![Australia [AUS]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/au.svg "Australia [AUS]"){kind=small} Australia | 5,800,000(58 BB) | 1,500,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 2,500,000(25 BB) | -100,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 1,500,000(15 BB) | -700,000 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,000,000(10 BB) | -200,000 |
Gongli LiSam Pantos raised the cutoff to 200,000 and Gongli Li jammed from the small blind for 780,000. Pantos made the call for the majority of his stack, and the players flipped their cards.
Gongli Li: K♦ Q♣
Sam Pantos: 2♠2♦
It was a flip Li needed to win to stay alive, but he was unable to do so as the board ran out 5♠7♠8♣ 5♦ 4♦, keeping Pantos' deuces ahead the entire way.
Pantos was back up to over two million, while Li was sent to the cashier's desk to collect his seventh-place payout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 2,200,000(28 BB) | 800,000 |
GL Gongli Li Australia | busted | -1,400,000 |
Ross Coveney made it 160,000 to go from the cutoff and David Hirst defended his big blind.
On the 6♥ A♦ Q♦ flop, Hirst check-called a bet of 110,000 from Coveney to see the 5♠peel off on the turn. Again Hirst checked, and again he called after Coveney fired 200,000.
A K♣ fell on the river and after Hirst checked for a third time, Coveney knuckled back and flipped Q♥ 7♥ for a pair of queens. Hirst had that pipped with Q♣ 9♣ as his kicker was bigger, earning him the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney ![Ireland [IRL]](/assets/images/flags/4x3/ie.svg "Ireland [IRL]"){kind=small} Ireland | 7,800,000(98 BB) | -500,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,700,000(46 BB) | 600,000 |
Sam Pantos raised early position to 200,000 and Ross Coveney three-bet to 550,000 out of the big blind. Pantos instantly called.
They saw a flop of 2♣ A♣ A♥, where Coveney continued for 250,000. Pantos called and both checked the K♦ turn.
On the 4♥ river, Coveney shoved with top full house holding A♠K♣, and Pantos went into Hollywood mode with J♣ T♣ before he eventually laid it down.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 8,300,000(104 BB) | 300,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 1,400,000(18 BB) | -1,000,000 |
Ailen JiAilen Ji raised to 160,000 from early position with 9♦ 8♦, and only Sam Pantos called on the button holding K♦ T♠.
A jackpot flop of 7♣ 7♠7♥ was checked by both players, and the 6♥ arrived on the turn. Ji fired a delayed continuation-bet of 130,000, which Pantos called.
The 4♥ completed the board, and Ji overbet jammed for 1,800,000. Pantos let it go, allowing Ji to drag in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 2,600,000(33 BB) | 1,000,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 2,400,000(30 BB) | -200,000 |
Filip RadicSam Pantos opened to 175,000 from the cutoff and Filip Radic defended his big blind.
The connected flop of 8♥ 9♠7♦ hit the felt and both checked to the board-pairing 7♣ turn. Radic led out for 225,000 and Pantos quickly raised to 600,000. Radic called.
A 2♣ hit the river and Radic checked it over to Pantos, who fired 700,000. Radic rechecked his cards and then called, showing J♥ T♦ for a straight.
Pantos also had a straight with 6â™ 5â™ , but that was no good as he mucked and sent the chips in Radic's direction.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 4,300,000(54 BB) | 1,700,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 2,600,000(33 BB) | -1,700,000 |
With A♥ J♠, David Hirst raised the hijack to 160,000 and Ross Coveney defended from the big blind holding K♠7♠.
The action checked through on the 8♠Q♦ 5♠flop, and the K♣ arrived on the turn. Coveney led out for 110,000, and Hirst stuck around with a call.
The 9♦ completed the board, and Coveney fired again, this time for 130,000. Hirst thought it over before returning his cards to the dealer, sending another pot in the direction of the chip leader.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 8,000,000(100 BB) | 300,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,100,000(39 BB) | -300,000 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 7,700,000(128 BB) | |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 4,300,000(72 BB) | -200,000 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,400,000(57 BB) | 100,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 2,600,000(43 BB) | -300,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,600,000(27 BB) | 200,000 |
GL Gongli Li Australia | 1,400,000(23 BB) | 80,000 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,200,000(20 BB) | -200,000 |
Daniel TolomeoDaniel Tolomeo shoved the button for 320,000 and was put at risk by David Hirst in the big blind.
Daniel Tolomeo: Kâ™ Tâ™
David Hirst: 6♦ 6♣
Tolomeo was in a flip for his tournament life, and found two pair to take a huge lead on the K♣ Q♥ T♥ flop.
However, the poker gods weren't on Tolomeo's side today as the 6♠turn improved Hirst to a set. An A♦ on the river wasn't the card Tolomeo needed to survive, ending his run in eighth.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DH David Hirst Australia | 3,300,000(55 BB) | 400,000 |
DT Daniel Tolomeo Australia | busted | -380,000 |
Filip Radic raised to 120,000 from early position, and only Sam Pantos called from the big blind.
Pantos check-called a bet of 100,000 from Radic on the 4♠5♣ 5♥ flop.
The T♥ landed on the turn and Pantos switched gears, leading out for 200,000. This time, Radic called.
When the J♠completed the board, Pantos fired again for 350,000. Radic called, and Pantos revealed a bluff with 9♥ 6♥.
Radic tabled 7♠7♥ for just a pair of sevens, which was good enough to earn him the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 4,500,000(75 BB) | -800,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 2,900,000(48 BB) | 700,000 |
Sam Pantos limped in for 60,000 from middle position and Ailen Ji shoved the small blind for 625,000. Ross Coveney then called from the big blind, and Pantos folded.
Ailen Ji: J♥ J♣
Ross Coveney: K♥ Q♥
It was a flip, and one that Ji needed to win to remain in contention. He took a big leap towards survival on the 9♥ 2♣ J♠flop as he made a set, but did need to dodge a ten as that would give Coveney Broadway.
The 5♣ and A♦ turn and river were both safe, giving Ji a double-up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 7,700,000(128 BB) | -700,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,400,000(23 BB) | 655,000 |
Matthew MaksRoss Coveney raised to 120,000 from early position before Matthew Maks three-bet to 350,000 from the next seat. Sam Pantos cold-called on the button, and Coveney also came along.
The trio saw a 2♦ 8♠5♥ flop, where the action checked to Maks and he fired a continuation-bet of 400,000. Pantos folded his mystery hand, but Coveney elected to continue via a call.
The 6♥ turn brought another check from Coveney, and Maks kept his foot on the gas with a bet of 550,000. Again, Coveney called.
The 8♥ completed the board and Coveney checked for a third time. With 1,300,000 behind, Maks went deep into the tank, burning through a few time banks before moving all-in. Coveney quickly called.
Maks turned over Q♦ Q♥ for an overpair, but Coveney had rivered trips with 8♣ 7♣ to bring the tournament down to eight players.
Maks headed to the rail in ninth as the first casualty of the final table, while Coveney extended his chip lead to 8,400,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 8,400,000(140 BB) | 3,100,000 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 5,300,000(88 BB) | -400,000 |
MM Matthew Maks Australia | busted | -2,400,000 |
Ailen Ji raised from early position to 120,000 and Sam Pantos defended the big blind.
On the Q♣ 5♦ 4♣ flop, Pantos check-raised to 220,000 after Ji bet 85,000. Ji called to see the 5♥ turn, where he was faced with a bet of 300,000 from Pantos. Again, Ji called.
An 8♣ hit the river and Pantos, who held K♦ Q♠, checked it over. Ji checked back A♥ K♥, and mucked when he saw the pair of queens Pantos held.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 5,700,000(95 BB) | 700,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 745,000(12 BB) | -655,000 |
Sam Pantos made it 195,000 under the gun with 2♠2♦. Matthew Maks called on the button holding 4♣ 3♣, Yoad Agmon called out of the small blind with 9♥ 9♦, and Daniel Tolomeo defended K♠7♦ in the big blind.
After two checks, Pantos fired a continuation-bet of 300,000 on the 8♥ A♥ T♣ flop, which got the rest of the table to fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 5,000,000(83 BB) | 635,000 |
MM Matthew Maks Australia | 2,400,000(40 BB) | -105,000 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,400,000(23 BB) | -200,000 |
DT Daniel Tolomeo Australia | 380,000(6 BB) | -255,000 |
David Hirst raised from early position to 120,000 and Yoad Agmon defended his big blind.
The flop came 3♠A♥ K♥ and when Agmon checked, Hirst continued for 100,000. Agmon called.
A K♣ hit the turn and both checked to the 2♠river, where Agmon checked to Hirst. After some deliberation, Hirst bet 275,000, which drew a quick fold from Agmon.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
DH David Hirst Australia | 2,900,000(48 BB) | 285,000 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,600,000(27 BB) | -235,000 |
Filip Radic raised the button to 120,000 with 5♥ 4♥, and Ross Coveney defended J♠5♠from the big blind.
Coveney checked the Q♠J♣ K♦ flop and then called a continuation-bet of 140,000 from Radic.
The 2♣ turn brought a second check from Coveney and a second bet from Radic, this time for 300,000. Again, Coveney called.
The 9♣ completed the board and Coveney checked. Radic thought for a while before unloading the clip with a third and final bullet of 500,000.
Coveney didn't take long to fold, giving up the pot to Radic, who moved over two million.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,300,000(88 BB) | -360,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 2,200,000(37 BB) | 565,000 |
Ross Coveney raised to 120,000 from under the gun and Filip Radic called from the small blind. Ailen Ji also came along from the big blind.
On the 3♠4♠T♣ flop, all three checked to the A♦ turn, where Coveney fired 160,000 when it got to him.
Radic then put in a raise holding 5♦ 4♦, and everybody else quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,400,000(90 BB) | -260,000 |
FR Filip Radic Australia | 2,100,000(35 BB) | 465,000 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,400,000(23 BB) | -195,000 |
Australian Poker Cup Final Table 
Sam PantosThe final day of the Australian Poker Cup gets underway at The Star Sydney from 12:30 p.m. local time, with just nine players remaining in contention to become the first champion of WPT Australia 2026.
Ireland's Ross Coveney will return with the chip lead after bagging 5,660,000 last night, putting him clear of Sam Pantos in second with 4,365,000. David Hirst sits third with 2,615,000, while Matthew Maks is close behind with 2,505,000.
| Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 1,635,000 | 32 | 1 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,595,000 | 32 | 2 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,660,000 | 32 | 3 |
MM Matthew Maks Australia | 2,505,000 | 32 | 4 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,835,000 | 32 | 5 |
DT Daniel Tolomeo Australia | 635,000 | 32 | 6 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 4,365,000 | 32 | 7 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 2,615,000 | 32 | 8 |
GL Gongli Li Australia | 1,320,000 | 32 | 9 |
Ailen JiAlso returning are Yoad Agmon (1,835,000), Filip Radic (1,635,000), Ailen Ji (1,595,000), and Gongli Li (1,320,000), while Daniel Tolomeo enters the final day as the short stack with 635,000.
Play resumes with 29 minutes and 43 seconds remaining in Level 26, with blinds at 30,000/60,000 and a 60,000 big blind ante. All nine finalists have already locked up AUD 8,700 ($6,264), but their eyes will firmly be on the AUD 83,740 ($60,293) top prize, along with a AUD 1,500 WPT Prime Championship seat in Las Vegas and the trophy.
WPT Australia Poker Cup TrophyThe action is set to get underway at 12:30 p.m., with the final table also being streamed on a delay via Twitch and Facebook. Somuchpoker will be on the floor throughout the day, bringing you all the key hands and eliminations until the Australian Poker Cup crowns its champion.
| Player | Chips | Table | Seat |
|---|---|---|---|
FR Filip Radic Australia | 1,635,000 | 32 | 1 |
AJ Ailen Ji Australia | 1,595,000 | 32 | 2 |
RC Ross Coveney Ireland | 5,660,000 | 32 | 3 |
MM Matthew Maks Australia | 2,505,000 | 32 | 4 |
YA Yoad Agmon Australia | 1,835,000 | 32 | 5 |
DT Daniel Tolomeo Australia | 635,000 | 32 | 6 |
SP Sam Pantos Australia | 4,365,000 | 32 | 7 |
DH David Hirst Australia | 2,615,000 | 32 | 8 |
GL Gongli Li Australia | 1,320,000 | 32 | 9 |
| Place | Payout (AUD) | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83,740 | $60,293 |
| 2 | 53,000 | $38,160 |
| 3 | 39,000 | $28,080 |
| 4 | 29,000 | $20,880 |
| 5 | 22,400 | $16,128 |
| 6 | 17,000 | $12,240 |
| 7 | 13,100 | $9,432 |
| 8 | 10,200 | $7,344 |
| 9 | 8,700 | $6,264 |
